Improvement in molds for pills



J. A. McFERRAN.

MOLDS FOR PILLS.

No.177,366. Patented May 23,1876;

UNITED STA'rns IMPROVEMENT IN Specification forming part of LettersPatent No.

PATENT rrron.

MOLDS FOR PILILS.

177,866, dated May 23, 1876; application filed April 28, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH A. MGFERRAN, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,have invented certain Improvements in Molds, of which the following is aspecification:

Theobject of my invcntion is to construct a chain of molds in whichpowder for making pills, or other materials for other objects, can becompressed, and from which the molded article can be readily discharged.This object I attain in the manner which I will now proceed to describe,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is avertical section of my improved molding device; Fig. 2, a transversesection; and Fig. 3, a plan view, partly in section.

A is a box-like frame, between which a number of blocks, B, are arrangedto slide, the said blocks being hinged together at their lower ends ac,as shown. Each block B has on each side a flange, a, the two flangeshear-- ing and sliding on ledges b 1), formed on the frame, which hasribs 6 overlapping the blocks, and keeping them in place. Chambers 5 forreceiving the material to be molded are formed at the junctions of theblocks, one half of each chamber being formed in one block, and theother half in the adjoining block, and the chambers in all casesextending below the supporting-ledges b of the blocks, for a purposeexplained hereafter. B is a plunger or die adapted to the chambers ofthe molds, and operated by any suitable mechanism.

One of the chambers which has received its proper charge of material tobe molded being beneath the plunger, the latter is brought down withsufficient force to condense and solidify the charge, after which thechain of molds is moved forward between the frame A until anotherchamber is beneath the mold, when the plunger is again depressed, and sothe operation iscontinued.

As the blocks pass from the frame, and are freed from the control of itsguides, they will turn downward on their hinges, thereby exposing thecompressed charges, which will 5 either of themselves fall from themolds, or can be readily dislodged therefrom.

As before remarked, the chambers of the molds must extend below thebearing-ledges b. In fact, the chambers must be of such a it begins toact on the material, shall be below the said ledges. This importantfeature of my invention should be adhered to, for the reason thatpressure applied by the plunger to the material at a point below thesaid ledges .tends to force together the two blocks in which the chamberis formed-or, in other words, the pressure of the plunger on the ma"terial tends to maintain a tight joint between the adjoining blocks.

of molds, and they may be moved forward through the frame A by hand, orby any suitable mechanism.

I do not claim, broadly, a series of blocks tion; but

I claim as my inventio'n l. The combination of the plunger B with B,hinged to each other, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the chambered blocks, hinged together at theirlower edges, and having at or near the top flanges a, withsupporting-ledges on a guiding-frame, A, all substantially as specified.

together as specified, and chambered at their junctions, with a plunger,the movement of which is such that, when depressed, its lower end shallbe below the support of' the blocks.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH A. MGFERRAN.

Witnesses HARRY HowsoN, J r., HARRY SMITH.

depth that the lower end of the plunger, when The blocks mayconstitutean endless chain hinged together, with chambers at the juncthestationary frame A and chambered blocks 3. The combination of theblocks, hinged

